Hammock back-rest.



' H. B. ARNOLD.

HAMMOCK BACK REST. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26. I9l4.

Patented June 26, 1917.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES:

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HARRY B. ARNOLD, OF NEW.BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL SPRING- BED COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF GON- NECTICUT.

HAMMOCK BACK-REST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 19117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. ARNOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in. the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Hammock Back-Rest, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more especially to that class of hammocks, commonly known as couch hammocks and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide means for supporting the back of a person in various sitting or reclining postures.

One form of device embodying my invention and-in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a couch hammock having my improved back rest attached thereto, with parts cut away to show construction.

Fig. 2 is a detail rear view of one end of the back rest, showing the arrangement of the support therefor.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 5 denotes the mattress of a couch hammock of any ordinary form and construction, this mattress being supported upon a frame of any preferred form. The numeral 6 denotes one end of the hammock and 7 the back. The hammock is shown as supported by means of chains 8 attached at the front and back top edges of the end 6 and to a bar 9 secured within the material composing the end. Chains 10 or other flexible connections may be employed to connect each end of the bar 9 with each end of a bar 11 located within the material at the bottom edge of the end 6. All of the parts herein above described may be of any ordinary and well known construction and further illustration and description is unnecessary to a thorough understanding of my invention and are therefore omitted.

My improved back rest consists of a body 12, preferably composed of some textile fabric and in the shape of a flattened tube and containing any suitable filling to constitute a cushion. The edges of the fabric are formed into pockets 13 within which stiffening rails 14: are secured. A flexible support 15 is attached to the back rest at each end of the latter, and an important part of the invention consists in the manner of attaching this support. It may be of any flexible material, preferably, as herein shown, a chain detachably secured in any desired manner to the supporting chains 8 and 10, or to any other suitable part of the hammock. This flexible support is passed through holes 16 formed near opposite edges of the back rest, a pair of these holes being located at each end thereof and preferably within the cushion part of the back rest. The flexible support lies against the back part of the rest and passes through the openings 16 to the front thereof, at which point it is secured as by fastenings 17, herein shown as screws, preferably fastened to the rails 14. The ends of the flexible support may be secured in any desired manner, as herein shown, one end 18 being passed through the links of the chain 10, and secured as by a hook 19, while the opposite end 20 is suspended on an S hook 21, which in turn is attached to a hook 22 passed through one of the links of the chain 8. The end 20 of the chain is of sufficient length to provide for adjustment of the rest to different heights. It will be noted that the hook 22 has one end positioned with its plane at right angles to the plane of the other end, and this arrangement is such that the hook can be dropped over the bar 9'instead of being inserted in the chain 8, that is, the hook is readily adaptable to couch hammocks supported by other means than chains.

It will be noted that the support 15 is secured to the front face of the rails 14 at a distance from the edge thereof, and an advantage is gained by this arrangement and especially with respect to the top rail 14, as this tends to throw this rail backwardly with respect to the body 12, and consequently away from the back of a person reclining against the back rest.

It will be seen from this construction that a back rest is provided with means of attachment for locating it in different positions, both vertically and horizontally, to accommodate the postures which a person may desire to assume. The attachment of the support adjacent to the opening 16 retains the back rest in any desired position and by suitably arranging the ends of the chains not only the position of the back rest may be determined but different degrees of rigidity may be obtained therefor.

While I have shown and described herein a satisfactory arrangement for effecting my purpose, the construction herein illustrated and described may be departed from to a greater or lesser degree and yet be Within the spirit and intent of'the invention.

1. In combination with a hammock having means for suspending it, a back rest having an opening therein at a distance from its top edge, a flexible support extending through said opening and secured to the back rest between said opening and the top edge thereof, and means for securing the means for removably attaching the ends of said support.

3. In combination With a hammock, a back rest having openings therethrough, a flexible support extending along the back of said rest and through the openings to the front thereof, means for securing said support in proximity to said openings, and means for extensibly attaching said support at the ends thereof.

4. In combination With a hammock having means for suspending it, a back rest consisting of a cushioned body part and a stiffened edge flexibly connected With the upper edge of the body part, a flexible support secured to the face of said stiffened edge at a distance from its upper edge whereby force is applied to said stiffened edge tending to throw it backwardly, and means for said openings, means for attaching said support to said stiffened edges, and means for securing the ends of said support.

6. In combination With a hammock having means for suspending it, a back rest including a body part and a rail flexibly connected therewith at its upper edge, a support attached to said back rest and secured to the front face of the rail at a distance from its upper edge Wherebyforce is applied to said rail tending to force it back- Wardly, and means for supporting the lower edge of the back rest.

7. In combination With a hammock having means for suspending it, a back rest ineluding a cushioned body part having openings therein, a stiffening piece located at the edge of the body part and flexibly connected therewith, and a flexible support for said back rest, said support extending through said openings and secured to the front face of said stiffening piece.

8. In combination With a hammock having means for suspending it, a back rest including a body part With'openings therein, stiflening pieces located at opposite edges of the bodypart and flexibly connected therewith, and a flexible connection to support said back rest, said connection extending through said openings and secured to the front face of each stiffeningpiece.

HARRY B. ARNOLD. V Witnesses:

U. R. CoDAIRE, I. Tovvnns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington; D. 0. 

